Associate - Planning - Exeter

Trowers & Hamlins LLP; Exeter; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Trowers & Hamlins LLP in Exeter seeks an Associate to join its Planning and Environmental team. The role covers complex planning applications, strategic legal reviews, and non-contentious advice across private and public sectors.

You will work with senior partners across the London, Exeter and Manchester offices to develop the planning offering. Candidates should have up to 5 years of planning experience, strong academic credentials and exceptional client-facing skills.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with up to 5 years' experience in planning work.
• Excellent academic record with strong technical ability in planning law.
• Proven ability to manage files and client relationships independently.

Responsibilities

• Handle complex planning applications, with legal reviews and strategic advice.
• Negotiate Section 106 and Section 278 agreements.
• Provide general planning advice on major development schemes.
• Represent planning authorities and providers in relation to CPO work.
• Engage in enforcement issues and public inquiry work.
• Develop client relationships and participate in marketing initiatives.
• Ensure files comply with Lexcel procedures and contribute to training.

Skills

Technical legal skills

Strong academic record

Outstanding communication

Unwavering client focus

Commercial awareness

Strategic thinking

Organised and methodical

Education

Solicitor qualification

Job description

Associate - Planning - Exeter

Department: Planning and Environmental

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Exeter

Reporting To: Jacqueline Backhause

Description

Our team has grown significantly over the last six years. We are based in London, Exeter and Manchester. Not resting on our laurels, our business plan foresees continued growth over the next five years. We have plans to strengthen our practice in London and the regions and an exciting opportunity has now arisen for an Associate to join our national practice.

The Role

Our Planning Team acts for a full range of clients in both the private and public sectors. We work closely with colleagues in our leading Public Sector, Real Estate, Construction and Corporate teams providing our clients with the best and most commercial advice, irrespective of market sector. We advise on all contentious and non-contentious aspects of the planning and environmental regimes.

Our team has grown significantly over the last six years. We are based in London, Exeter and Manchester. Not resting on our laurels, our business plan foresees continued growth over the next five years. We have plans to strengthen our practice in London and the regions and an exciting opportunity has now arisen for an Associate to join our national practice. Working seamlessly with colleagues and clients across the country, you will support planning partners Jacqueline Backhaus, Rory Stracey and Rob Walker. Most importantly, however, the opportunity is for you to assist in the future development of the firm's planning offering both inside and outside of London. You will have significant opportunity to develop a strong practice.

Some of the team's high profile and significant matters that have been watched closely by the sector include:

• Regeneration of Meridian Water – 10,000 homes acting for the London Borough of Enfield;
• Relocation of the Museum of London into Smithfield;
• Advising the Ellison Institute of Technology regarding potential development prospects following their acquisition of 11-12 St James's Square in London;
• Estates regeneration in Merton – Leading on planning, environmental and CPO for 4500 new homes;
• Acting for Farnborough Airport Limited in respect of its planning application to increase aircraft movements from 50,000 to 70,000, including increased movements at weekends;
• Regeneration of Ham Close in Richmond acting for Richmond Housing Partnership;
• Leading planning appeal in Chelsea for Estate regeneration project for 400 new homes;
• Leading planning and environmental matters for an innovative self-build scheme in Cherwell for 1900 homes;
• Advising on planning and environmental aspects of Energy to Waste plants in Cambridge and North Yorkshire;
• Acting for many Registered Providers;
• Acting for Historic England;
• Acting for many local authorities.

What you'll be doing

• Complex planning applications – legal reviews and strategic advice
• Section106 agreements
• Section 278 agreements
• General planning advice in respect of major development schemes in the waste sector, the affordable housing sector, as well as the private developer sector
• Acting for planning authorities and registered providers in relation to CPO work
• Enforcement issues and public inquiry work
• Planning due diligence on commercial and corporate transactions
• Building and maintaining effective client relationships
• Active participation in marketing initiatives
• Ensuring files are managed in compliance with Lexcel procedures
• Participating in firm-wide and departmental training sessions
• Training and development of junior legal staff and secretary (where appropriate)

The Candidate

The firm has a Career Development Framework which sets out the competencies we expect of those at the Associate grade. In particular for this role we require:

• Proven ability to take on responsibility and manage files, independently where appropriate;
• Qualified solicitor with up to 5 years' experience in planning work.
• Strong academic record
• Exceptional technical legal skills with meticulous attention to detail
• Unwavering client focus with a track record of superior service delivery
• Sharp commercial awareness and strategic thinking capabilities
• Natural credibility and gravitas in client-facing situations
• Methodical, disciplined and highly organised approach to complex matters
• Outstanding communication skills across all mediums and audiences

Join a team where your expertise shapes the future of planning law. At Trowers & Hamlins, you'll benefit from structured career development, mentorship from industry leaders, and the opportunity to work on market-defining projects whilst building your reputation as a planning law expert in a supportive, ambitious environment.

Benefits

Our benefits include, an annual bonus scheme, GPP Pension Scheme with Aviva. We also offer Private Medical Insurance, (currently with Vitality Health) upon joining the firm, which include discounted gym memberships, free cinema tickets, health assessments and much more.

Trowers & Hamlins is an equal opportunities employer and values equity, diversity and inclusion. All applications will be considered on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role and will be treated equally irrespective of Ethnicity, Gender (including Trans and non-binary) Race, Disability, Religion and sexual orientation.

As part of our firm recruitment policy our candidates are subject to employment screening background checks. These checks include personal details, education and employment history, professional qualifications and credit and criminal checks as appropriate.